Statistics Shows Farmers Are Getting Health & Safety

With ACC claims for
occupational quad bike accidents falling by 17 percent and
serious harm down ten percent, a combined Government and
industry focus on health and safety is working.

“Over the Christmas and New Year period there was a
spike in accidents but many of the high profile ones were
recreational and not occupational,” says Jeanette Maxwell,
Federated Farmers Health & Safety spokesperson.

“While quad bikes are mostly used on-farm, not all
accidents are farm related. That distinction is an important
one because farm-related quad bike injury and death remains
thankfully rare, especially when compared to the road and
drowning tolls.

“With some 100,000 quad bikes in
New Zealand they easily outnumber the number of registered
motorcycles too.

“That is why Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) research affirms
what we in the industry know; farmers are adopting health
and safety as good business practice.

“This MBIE
survey reports that 16 percent more farmers reported some or
all riders wearing helmets than in 2010. Quad bike helmet
sales almost doubled in the year to June 2012 so the message
is getting out there and is being acted upon.

“And
it is not just quad bikes but general farm safety.
Agricultural ACC claims in 2011 were 15.6 percent lower than
what they were in 2009.

“Federated Farmers
recommends farmers go over their farm hazards with all
visitors as a way to continually refresh their own
understanding of them.

“Federated Farmers also
offers a plain-English Occupational Health and Safety
Manual. This is written for farm employers by farm
employers in order to meet legal obligations relating to
health and safety.

“This costs next to nothing for
our members and is available via 0800 327 646 (0800 FARMING)
or from Federated Farmers shop at www.fedfarm.org.nz.

“While we
fully support the Ministry’s quad bike and safety
messaging, farmers can also do things to help themselves
out.

“We heavily recommend farmers working alone
should brief family or staff about where they are working
and their expected arrival time back.

“And
always carry a radio telephone, a mobile phone or if you are
in an area of little or no radio coverage, a GPS-equipped
Personal Locator Beacon,” Mrs Maxwell concluded.

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